History Utrecht Centraal railway station

inside new station.

the first station @ site opened on december 18, 1843, when nederlandsche rhijnspoorweg-maatschappij opened first station on utrecht territory. in 1938, station became central station maliebaanstation, on other side of city, closed , line hilversum diverted central station.

until 1970s station building of 1865 remained in place, though fundamental renovation took place in 1936. 2 years later, fire burned down of building, subsequently rebuilt. station building of late 1930s in turn demolished in 1970s make way hoog catharijne, europe s largest enclosed shopping mall, opened on 17 december 1973. since moment, station hall no longer had real entrance; passageways of shopping mall continue station. in 1989, station hall enlarged include platform.

between 2008 , 2016, station underwent major reconstruction, part of general reconstruction of utrecht station area, , because of ns-project wereldstations. station hall replaced new glass structure, designed architects benthem crouwel architekten, sheltering roofs on platforms restored, , station has been once again separated hoog catharijne shopping area. bus station, located on east side of station (i.e. on side of city centre) has been split in two, buses , trams arriving west of city (among others new suburb of leidsche rijn) terminating on west side of station reduce traffic congestion.

a scale model of new station has been on display @ madurodam.